Button-Based Public Domain Calculation

This page showcases the button-based version of the public domain calculator. After choosing a jurisdiction you will be guided through to several questions that help you to determine the copyright status of a work under review. These calculators are of the most basic kind, only using buttons to guide the user through the process. See the description of the software for more information on the various types of calculators.

It should be noted that multiple layers of rights (whether of copyright, neighbouring or related rights or sui generis rights) might apply to the same information product. Please make sure that you correctly identify and apply the Public Domain Calculators to all subject matter that qualifies for protection.

It is recommended that all information boxes be carefully read prior to answering a question in the calculators.

Where an event is mentioned in the calculator as the starting point for the calculation of a set number of years, for the purposes of the calculator, the event should be taken as occurring on the first day of January of the year following that in which it actually took place.

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Disclaimer

Please note that the Outofcopyright Calculators reflect the state of the law in the featured jurisdictions only up until May 2011.

They do not reflect subsequent changes in the law. In particular, they have not been updated to take account of the amendments introduced to the EU's Directive 2006/116/EC (Term Directive) by Directive 2011/77/EU (Term Extension Directive) and corresponding changes to national rules by implementing legislation.

It should be noted that the calculators are released under a CC-BY-SA license. Users wishing to update the calculators are invited to do so under the terms of this license.

The Public Domain Calculator is not intended to replace the case-by-case assessment by a legal expert of the public domain status of a copyrighted work or other protected subject matter. For legal certainty as to whether the term of protection of copyright or related rights has expired please contact a legal professional.

The Public Domain Calculator is intended to provide the public domain status of examined material exclusively in the selected jurisdiction. Where an EU Member State has overseas or other special-status territories, the national Calculators are applicable only to the extent that the territory is subject to the Member State's copyright legislation. Please note that the public domain status of subject matter may differ between jurisdictions.

In relation to neighbouring or related rights (i.e. rights over performances, phonograms, the first fixation of a film and broadcast), the Public Domain Calculator only applies when at least one of the right-holders is a national of an EEA state, with the exception of Switzerland, where the Public Domain Calculator only applies when at least one of the right-holders is a Swiss national. The same is true for films where protection is sought in the UK, Cyprus and Ireland.

The Public Domain Calculator does not cover questions of authors’ or performers’ moral rights.